10 things we all need to understand about bulimia

More than one and 725k people suffer from an eating disorder in the UK, according to eating disorder charity Beat - and the majority of those have anorexia or bulimia.

Bulimics 'binge' on large amounts of food and then 'purge' to prevent their body putting on any weight. And young women are more likely to develop the condition than any other group. It's an isolating and lonely illness that's easy to keep secret: 8% of women will suffer from bulimia in their lifetime, but very few will talk openly about it.

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So, what causes the eating disorder? And how can you help someone who might be suffering – or get help yourself? Here's 10 things that everyone should know about bulimia...

1. Bulimia and anorexia aren't the same thing

Bulimics are often able to hide their illness because they appear to have a healthy appetite – eating regularly before purging in private. Anorexia is usually easier to spot because sufferers avoid food, often actively starving themselves and losing a lot of weight. That said, in some instances, bulimia can develop from anorexia.

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2. Bulimia isn't about food

As eating disorder charity Beat says: "Bulimia is not about food, it's about feelings." Feelings of low self-worth or body confidence, anxiety, stress, depression or difficult events in someone's life can all trigger the illness.

3. And then it spirals

According to Anorexia and Bulimia Care, bulimics start strictly controlling their food intake in the belief that it will help them get on with people and feel less alone. They may be perfectionists who put a lot of pressure on themselves. Or get a buzz from controlling their weight when other areas in their life cannot be controlled. Their weight becomes the scapegoat for the stress, anxiety or self-loathing that they feel.

4. Bulimics often maintain a 'healthy' weight

Body dysmorphia – where people have a distorted view of their size or shape – is heavily linked to all eating disorders. But, the act of bingeing and purging, means that bulimics will probably stay within a 'healthy' weight range rather than drastically losing weight like an anorexic can.

5. Purging doesn't just mean being sick

Bulimics can also become heavily reliant on using laxatives, diuretics or fasting to control their weight. Some sufferers will over-exercise to burn off the binge calories too.

6. The side effects of bulimia are visible

Beat says there's both behavioural and physical signs. Bulimics are more likely to suffer from mood swings, anxiety and tension. They're often preoccupied with thoughts of food, and life might be organised around shopping, eating and purging.

Most feel a loss of control over eating and have a distorted view of their body shape and weight. You might hear them complain of feeling bloated and being tired all the time while obsessively exercising. They also might hide food, or disappear from the table soon after eating to purge.

7. There's no single cause

Bulimics often struggle with self-esteem issues and other mental health problems like depression or anxiety. They use food to control how they look and feel, often believing that if they were slimmer they would be more liked.

8. Bulimia feels like this…

"I used to go to the food cupboard, fridge or freezer and eat as much as I could, as quickly as possible to try to make myself feel happier and fill the hole I felt inside", one sufferer told Beat.

"Afterwards I felt physically and emotionally upset and guilty about all the food I had eaten, so I would make myself sick. People thought I was really popular and together, but I knew I wasn't, I felt like a fake. I thought that people wouldn't like me if they knew what I was really like."

9. And it can kill

It's not just the long-term damage to a bulimic's health that can be caused by purging, eating disorders kill more people than any other mental illness in the UK. Sufferers are more likely to commit suicide, self-harm in other ways or experience organ failure. That's why getting help is so important.

10. Try talking

If you're worried about a friend or yourself, Beat says opening up is an essential first step. Seeking medical help is a must too. Head to their website for more info and support.

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